8th May 2021 – 76th anniversary of VE Day

Posted on 8 May 2021 by fcafa

The 8th May 2021 marks the 76th anniversary of VE Day – the end of WW2 in Europe. During their service in the RAF for that conflict, 512 Czechoslovak airmen, including 2 WAAF’s, from some 2512, were to lose their lives.

8. května 2021 jsme si připomněli 76. výročí konce druhé světové války v Evropě – Den vítězství. V tomto konfliktu padlo 512 československých letců z řad RAF, včetně dvou žen sloužících pod WAAF. Celkově se do bojů zapojilo 2512 československých mužů a žen.

The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede commemorates, by name, the 20,547 airmen, over 360 panels, who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves. Of these missing, currently 149 were Czechoslovak – 134 Czech and 15 Slovak – with about two-thirds being from 311 Sqn. Thus this Memorial is the location for the remembrance of the greatest number of fallen Czechoslovak airmen in the UK and the reason why we, the Free Czechoslovak Air Force Associates ltd, held an informal, covid 19 complaint, wreath laying event there today.

Památník leteckých sil v Runnymede připomíná na 360 panelech jmenovitě 20 547 letců, kteří byli v průběhu druhé světové války prohlášeni za nezvěstné při operačních letech ze základen ve Velké Británii, severní a západní Evropě, a u kterých není známo místo hrobu. Mezi těmito nezvěstnými je také 149 Čechoslováků (134 Čechů a 15 Slováků). Přibližně dvě třetiny z nich sloužily u 311. bombardovací perutě. Runnymedský památník je místem, kde se společně připomíná největší počet padlých československých letců v Británii a proto se The Czechoslovak Air Force Associates Ltd. rozhodla vykonat zde dnes neformální akt kladení věnců.

We were honoured that H.E. Libor Sečka , Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Marcel Babicz, Slovak Deputy Ambassador, Brigadier General Petr Čepelka, Czech Air Force, Col Jiří Niedoba, Czech Defence Attaché and Col Vladimír Stolárik, Slovak Defence Attaché accepted our invitation to join us for this remembrance event.

Bylo nám ctí, že při této příležitosti přijali naše pozvání také jeho excelence Libor Sečka, velvyslanec České republiky, Marcel Babicz, zástupce velvyslance Slovenské republiky, Brigádní generál Petr Čepelka ze Vzdušných sil Armády České republiky, Plukovník Jiří Niedoba, přidělenec obrany velvyslanectví České republiky a plukovník Vladimír Solárik, přidělenec obrany velvyslanectví Slovenské republiky.

A tour around the cloisters then followed searching out those 149 names with information about some of them. An unexpected find was that the name of S/Ldr Otto Smik is still listed on one of those memorial panels, even though his remains were recovered post-WW2 and are now interred at Bratislava, Slovakia.

Prošli jsme společně ambity a vyhledali všech 149 jmen Čechoslováků na zdejších panelech zmíněných. Neočekávaným nálezem bylo jméno S/Ldr. Otto Smika, které je zde stále uvedeno, ačkoliv jeho ostatky byly po válce vyzdviženy a jsou nyní uloženy v Bratislavě.

Our helpers also visited other Czechoslovak RAF locations, in the UK and around Europe, for this 76th VE Day anniversary, more details to follow.

Naši pomocníci rovněž navštívili další místa posledního odpočinku Čechoslováků sloužících v RAF po celé Británii a také v Evropě. Další informace budou následovat.

Posted in 310 Sqd, 311 Sqd, 312 Sqd, 313 Sqd, 68 Sqd, Battle of Britain, Ceremony, Memorial, No longer with us, Not Forgotton, Other RAF Squadrons | Leave a comment

President Benes visits his airmen 1940

Posted on 2 May 2021 by fcafa

President Eduard Benes visits 311 Sqn at RAF Honnington and 310 Sqn at RAF Duxford, 1940.

Posted in 310 Sqd, 311 Sqd | 1 Comment

Pribor RAF airmen remembered

Posted on 27 April 2021 by fcafa

The Czechoslovak RAF airmen from the Příbor district were remembered by a FCAFA volunteer who placed one of our bouquets at the Airmen’s Memorial.

Jeden z dobrovolníků FCAFA vzpomněl na československé letce RAF z okresu Příbor a položil kytici u jejich pomníku.

The Memorial was unveiled in 2004 in remembrance of all the military airmen from the Příbor District and was the initiative of the City of Příbor and Vojenské sdružení rehabilitovaných [Association of Military Veterans].

Jeho zbudování iniciovaly město Příbor a Vojenské sdružení rehabilitovaných, byl odhalen v roce 2004.

Six of those airmen had served in the RAF during WW2, two of whom were killed in that conflict:

Dva z šesti letců na něm uvedených, sloužících za druhé války v RAF, v tomto konfliktu padli.

BÖNISCH

František

Sgt

313 Sqn

Pilot

† 23.02.42.

HELMA

Oldřich

Sgt

311 Sqn

Pilot

† 02.07.41.

KRESTA

Otakar

W/O

313 Sqn

Pilot

OLŠOVSKÝ

Richard

LAC

311 Sqn

Fitter II E

ŠTIVAR

Václav

F/O

313 Sqn

Pilot

VANĚK

Vladimír

F/O

311 Sqn

Navigator

At the base of the MiG 15 bis aircraft also contains technical and tactical data about the aircraft. In addition to the six RAF airmen, the Memorial also remembers the 23 Czechoslovak military airmen from the 8th Fighter and 1st Transport Regiment who lost their lives on duty in the post-war period at the nearby Mošnov airbase.

Na podstavci vystaveného stroje MiG 15 bis jsou také uvedena jeho technická data. Mimo již zmiňované šestice je zde také vzpomenuto na dvacet tři československých vojenských letců od 8. stíhacího leteckého pluku a 1. transportního leteckého pluku z Mošnova, kteří zemřeli v poválečné době ve službě na nedaleké letecké základně tamtéž.

    The memorial was unveiled in 2004 in remembrance of all the military airmen from the Příbor District and was the instigation of the City of Příbor and Vojenské sdružení rehabilitovaných [Association of Military Veterans]. The Memorial is located at the intersection of 28. října, Komenského and Frenštátská streets, Příbor.

    Pomník je umístěn v Příboře, na křižovatce ulic 28. října, Komenského a Frenštátská.

    Posted in 310 Sqd, 311 Sqd, 312 Sqd, 313 Sqd, 68 Sqd, Memorial, Not Forgotton | Leave a comment

    I zeny chtely bojovat!

    Posted on 17 April 2021 by fcafa




    I ženy chtěly bojovat!




    od


    Karolína Stergurová








    VKniha se zabývá problematikou vojenské služby československých žen v britské armádě v tzv. ženských pomocných sborech, a to zejména ve složkách ATS a WAAF. První Čechoslovačky do nich vstupovaly od poloviny roku 1941 a působily na vojenských a leteckých základnách na celém území Velké Británie. Jiné pak od začátku roku 1943 sloužily v pomocných sborech v oblasti Středního východu. V průběhu války touto službou prošlo více než 200 československých občanek.

    Text přibližuje genezi, vlastní organizaci pomocných sborů, stejně jako průběh náboru, výcviku, vlastní pracovní zařazení i každodenní vojenskou službu československých žen. Zkoumá rovněž úvahy a postupy oficiálních československých institucí v otázce potenciálního zaměstnávání žen do vojenského prostředí a v širším rámci je zasazuje do praktikované britské válečné politiky a reálií.

    Vydavatel :
    Publisher :    		 Academia
    ISBN: 978-80-200-3181-5
    Format:
    Počet stran    		 Brožovaná kniha, 288 stran,
    Softback, 288 pages,
    Language:
    Jazyk    		 Česky
    Czech
    Published:
    Publikováno    		 15.4.2021.
    Price:
    Cena    		 350 Kč


    Posted in 310 Sqd, 311 Sqd, 312 Sqd, 313 Sqd, 68 Sqd, Biography, Books, Not Forgotton | Leave a comment

    Remembered in Egypt

    Posted on 11 April 2021 by fcafa

    On 29 March, the Defence Office at the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Cairo, remembered F/O Vlastimil Skákal, when they visited his grave. He was a Czechoslovak who served in the RAF during WW2 and in 2005 died in Cairo.

    _______________________________________________________________

    Vlastimil Skákal was born 10 June 1919 in Cairo, Egypt.  His father Oldřich Skákal was originally from Černilov in the Hradec Králov region of Czechoslovakia, and had settled in Egypt in 1903. Together with his brother, they founded a successful artistic blacksmith and locksmith company.

    In 1939, Vlastimil was a student in Paris, and on learning that Czechoslovak residents in France or Frenchmen of Czechoslovak descent were being accepted into the Czechoslovak Army in Exile, he applied to the Czechoslovak Consul in Paris in August to help and was informed that recruitment into a Czechoslovak Army in Exile would begin at the end of September. On 19 October he enlisted into the Czechoslovak Army at Versailles and was assigned to the 11th Company of the 1st Czechoslovak Infantry Division, at Agde, in which the organisation, equipment, and armaments were French. On 20.12.39 he was posted, as a Cadet, to the French Cavalry Academy in Saumur, about 160 miles West of Paris. Following the German invasion of France on 10 May 1940, and the subsequent capitulation on 22 June 1940, the Czechoslovak Army to England through the port of Séte in Southern France.

    For Vlastimil, he was evacuated on the Mohamed Ali el Kebir which departed on 26.06.40, arriving at Liverpool on 07.07.40. Initially, the evacuated the Czechoslovak military were at Cholmondeley where Vlastimil was assigned to the Czechoslovak Mixed Brigade.

    Vlastimil Skákal, British Army

    On 12.12.41. he was accepted into the RAF VR and posted to the Czechoslovak Depot at RAF Wilmslow for training. He was selected for aircrew training and on 07.02.41. was posted to No 1 Elementary Air Navigation School [No 1 EANS], Eastbourne, for a training course in navigation. Two months later, he was posted to No 10 Air Observers School ( No 10 AOS), at Dumfries, Scotland. His next posting, on 22.04.42, was to 1429 Czechoslovak Operational Training Flight [1429 COTF], at RAF Thornaby-on-Tees, where he attended Course 12 and was a member of crew 24, consisting of F/Sgt HAERING Rudolf DFM, Sgt SKÁKAL Vlastimil, Sgt KAŠPAR Václav, Sgt JAROŠ Štěpán and Sgt FRANKO Josef. On 01.09.42. he was posted as a navigator to 311 Sqn. who were deployed in RAF Bomber Command stationed and stationed at East Wretham and equipped with Wellington twin-engined bomber aircraft. In Spring 1943, 311 Sqn was transferered to RAF Coastal Command and later that year re-equipped with long-range four-engined Liberator aircraft. On 22.2.44. he was commissioned at the rank of P/O, on 17.07.44. he was promoted to the rank of F/O. On 09.01.45 he was posted to 105 OTU for retraining for RAF Transport Command duties. His final RAF posting was on 17.04.45 when he went 246 Sqn RAF Transport Command.

    He returned to Czechoslovakia on 04.10.45. and when demobilised from the Czechoslovak AIr Force, he returned to Egypt and was involved in export/import businesses between the two countries. After the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in February 1948, he joined the Transakta office in the Commercial Section of the Czechoslovak Embassy in Cairo where he remained until his retirement.

    He died in Cairo on 10.11. 2005, aged 86.

    _______________________________________________________________

    Posted in 311 Sqd | 1 Comment

    Zivotni pout pilota Karla Knaifla

    Posted on 4 April 2021 by fcafa

    Životní pouť pilota Karla Knaifla



    Jeden ze zapomenutých…

    od

    Jan Valíček





    Karel Knaifl (17. května 1914 Hořice – 24. července 1988 Pardubice) byl bojový pilot, který sloužil v období 2. světové války u Royal Air Force. Vojenskou službu nastoupil v roce 1936 ve vojenském leteckém učilišti v Prostějově, kde byl vyškolen jako polní pilot. V letectvu Československé armády zůstal až do jejího rozpuštění v roce 1939. Začátkem května 1939 opustil území protektorátu a dne 5. května 1939 byl již presentován u československé vojenské jednotky v Krakově. Odtud byl lodí odeslán do Francie a dne 9 . června 1939 podepsal pětiletý závazek do cizinecké legie. Pěchotní výcvik prodělal v Sidi-Bel-Abes v Africe. Po vyhlášení války 4. září 1939 byl přeřazen na leteckou základnu Ouargla v Africe jako pilot a záhy přeložen k leteckému pluku 101 v Toulouse jako bombardovací pilot.

    Po porážce Francie odjel do Anglie, kde byl 26. července 1940 byl zařazen do RAF a zaškolován na britských letadlech. 23. dubna 1941 byl přidělen k 311. čsl. bombardovací peruti jako bojový pilot. Prvního operačního letu se zúčastnil dne 22. srpna 1941 jako druhý pilot při náletu na přístav Le Havre. 29. prosince 1941 byl přeložen ke 138. britské letecké peruti, v níž se mimo jiné podílel na dopravě leteckých výsadků Bioscop, Bivouac, Steel, Intrasitive a Tin nad území protektorátu. Po odchodu od 138. perutě působil až do konce války jako pilotní instruktor na různých místech ve Velké Británii a v Kanadě.

    V srpnu 1945 se vrátil do ČSR a stal se učitelem praktického létání v pilotní škole III v Olomouci velitelem pilotní školy, v průběhu roku 1948 byl jejím velitelem. V roce 1949 byl jako důstojník z povolání propuštěn z československé armády, za použití agenta kontrarozvědky obviněn z protistátní činnosti a ve vykonstruovaném procesu odsouzen. Byl vězněn do roku 1952. Poté pracoval jako dělník a byl částečně rehabilitován. K 1. únoru 1964 byl povýšen na majora v záloze, ale návrat do armády mu nebyl povolen. Pracoval převážně na řadových místech v různých podnicích (STS Hradec Králové-Kukleny, JZD Všestary, Kovošrot Hradec Králové, Prefa Rosice nad Labem – tam pracoval až do odchodu do důchodu).

    Byl vyznamenán mnoha československými a spojeneckými vojenskými vyznamenáními. Zemřel dne 24. července 1988 v Pardubicích.

    V uznání zásluh v boji proti nepříteli v rámci rehabilitace vojáků západního odboje za 2. světové války byl rozkazem ministra obrany ČSFR č. 0104 čl. 80 dnem 1. června 1991 jmenován do hodnosti plukovníka in memoriam.

    Publisher:
    Vydavatel    		Jan Valíček
    ISBN:978-80-270-4293-7
    Format:
    Počet stran    		 A4 paperback, 74 pages, colour, black & white photos and illustration.
    A4 vazba brožovaná, 74 stran, Barevné a černobílé fotografie a ilustrace.
    Language:
    Jazyk    		Czech
    česky
    Published:
    Publikováno    		2018
    Price:
    Cena    		325 Kč
    Posted in 311 Sqd, Books | Leave a comment

    Nieuwe Niedorp excavation

    Posted on 28 March 2021 by fcafa


    Odkrývání Wellingtonu T2990 v Neiuwe Niedorp

    A recent initiative by the Dutch Ministry of the Interior for the excavation of some thirty WW2 aircraft crash sites, in Holland, in a final endeavour to recover the remains of airmen in those aircraft. Within the top six of those sites is the field grave of 311 Sqn Wellington KX-T, T2990, at Nieuwe Niedorp where the remains of possibly five of its crew who are believed to have been in the aircraft when it was shot down on the night of 22/23 June 1941.

    Současná iniciativa holandského Ministerstva vnitra zaměřená na vykopávky na cca třiceti místech havarií letounů ze druhé světové války dosáhla závěrečné fáze – vyzvednutí ostatků letců v těchto strojích. Mezi nejdůležitějšími šesti místy je polní hrob posádky 311. perutě, Wellingtonu KX-T T2990 v Neiuwe Neidorp. Zde zřejmě leží ostatky pěti členů jeho posádky, která byla sestřelena v noci z 22. na 23. června 1941.

    In mid-2020, nearly eighty years after T2990 had crashed, a preliminary radar survey by the Dutch authorities showed that the aircraft is clearly visible and so the chance that the remains of one or more crew members will be recovered during the recovery is very high.

    Ve dvacátých letech jednadvacátého století, téměř osmdesát let po havárii T2990, ukázal předběžný radarový vedený holandskými úřady, že letoun je velmi dobře identifikovatelný a je velká naděje na to, že ostatky jednoho nebo i více členů posádky budou vyzdviženy. Již bylo vydáno potřebné povolení k jejich vyzvednutí a nashromážděny potřebné finance.

    With recovery permissions now granted, and finance in place, excavation will commence in May 2021, in an attempt to recover the remains of its crew and finally provide closure for their families.

    Práce s tímto cílem začnou v květnu 2021 a očekává se, že pro rodiny letců konečně poskytnou podklady k uzavření této havárie.

    _______________________________________________________________

    311 Sqn Wellington bomber.
    Bombardér Wickers Wellington 311. perutě.

    On the night of 22 June 1941, 9 Wellingtons from 311 Sqn took off from East Wretham to join small force of 45 Wellingtons and 25 Hampdens for a bombing raid on Bremen. Take-off’s for the 311 Sqn aircraft were between 23:15 to 23:42. One of these Wellingtons was KX-T T2990, taking off at 23:16. Captained by F/Sgt Vilém Bufka with F/Sgt Alois Rozum. P/O Vilém Konštacký, P/O Leonard Smrček, Sgt Jan Hejna and Sgt Karel Valach for his crew.

    22. června 1941 odstartovalo z RAF East Wretham devět Wellingtonů 311. perutě, aby se přidaly k malému svazu dalších čtyřiceti pěti Wellingtonů a dvaceti pěti Hampdenů k útoku na Brémy. Čas vzletu byl pro stroje 311. perutě určen mezi 23:15 a 23:42. Jedním z těchto Wellingtonů byl stroj KX-T T2990 startující ve 23:16. Jeho kapitánem byl F/Sgt Vilém Bufka, dalšími členy posádky pak F/Sgt Rozum, P/O Konštacký, P/O Smrček, Sgt Hejna a Sgt Valach.

    They successfully reached their target and dropped their bombs. However, shortly after 01:15, on their return flight back to East Wretham, they were approaching Lemmer, in Eastern Holland, at about 13,000 feet when they were detected by a German radar station located at Medemblik, on the western side of the Zuider Zee (now Lake IJsselmeer). The radar operator radioed through to a Luftwaffe Me-110 night fighter from JG 4/NJG1 that was patrolling in that sector for returning Allied bombers and gave it an intercept course for the Wellington.

    Úspěšně dosáhli cíle a shodili bomby. Nicméně, krátce po 01:15, cestou zpět na East Wretham, když se ve výšce 13.000 stop blížili k Lemmeru ve východním Holandsku, byli zachyceni německým radarem umístěným v Medelbliku, na západní straně Zuider Zee (dnes jezero Ijsselmeer). Operátor radaru vyslal souřadnice Wellingonu ke stroji Me-110, nočnímu stíhači Luftwaffe od JG 4/NJG1, který hlídkoval v daném sektoru a jehož úkolem bylo zachytávat vracející se spojenecké bombardéry.

    Luftwaffe Me 110 Nightfighter.
    Noční stíhač Luftwaffe, Me 110.

    The Me-110, Captained by Oberleutnant Prinz Egmont zur Lippe-Weissenfeld and his radio operator Unteroffizier Jozef Rennette located with the Wellington and made two unsuccessful approaches to it. On the third approach, at about 02:14, the Me-110 made its attack and open-fired on the Wellington which was hit and its starboard engine caught fire causing it to spiral down, diving into the soft ground of a field at Nieuwe Niedorp.

    Kapitánem Me-110 byl Oberleutnant Prinz Egmont zur Lippe-Weissenfeld, jeho radiooperátor Unteroffizier Jozef Rennette bombardér lokalizoval a provedli nejdříve dva neúspěšné útoky. Při třetím útoku, přibližně v 02:14 ráno, Wellington zasáhl, zapálil mu pravý motor a bombardér se dostal do spirály. Dopadl na měkkou polní půdu v Nieuwe Niedorp.

    F/Sgt Vilém Bufka

    Only one of the crew, F/Sgt Bufka, was able to parachute out of the doomed aircraft. On landing, he broke both his legs and was captured by the Germans. After a period in hospital for medical treatment for his legs, he spent the remainder of the war as a Prisoner of War.

    Ze zničeného stroje se podařilo na padáku uniknout pouze jednomu členu posádky. Byl jím F/Sgt. Bufka. Při dopadu na zem si zlomil obě nohy a následně upadl do německého zajetí. Nejdříve prodělal léčbu zlomenin a po uzdravení strávil zbytek války jako válečný zajatec.

    At that time the field, a former muddy seabed, still had very soft ground and in 1941 the aircraft was considered not recoverable as it had dived deeply into the ground and the site became a field grave for the five missing crew, F/Sgt Alois Rozum, P/O Vilém Konštacký, P/O Leonard Smrček, Sgt. Jan Hejna and Sgt Karel Valach believed to have been in the aircraft when it crashed.

    V době havárie byla na poli, dřívějším mořské dnu, velmi měkká půda a v roce 1941 bylo vyproštění stroje prakticky nemožné. Zabořil se velmi hluboko a pole se tak stalo hrobem ostatních pěti letců posádky – F/Sgt. Aloise Rozuma, P/O Viléma Konštackého , P/O Leonarda Smrčka, Sgt. Jana Hejny a Sgt Karla Valacha.

    The local community erected a small memorial near to the crash location and on 4 May each year, the five missing crew are commemorated here.

    Místní lidé vybudovali poblíž místa nehody malý pomníček a každý rok 4. května si zde těchto pět padlých letců připomínají.

    In England, these five airmen are commemorated on the Airmen’s Memorial at Runnymede, England, the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln, and the Bomber Command Memorial, London.

    V Anglii jsou připomínáni v Památníku letců v Runnymede, v International Bomber Command Centre v Lincolnu a v Bomber Command Memorial v Londýně.

    _______________________________________________________________




    Posted in 311 Sqd, Not Forgotton | 3 Comments

    Escape from France to England

    Posted on 21 March 2021 by fcafa


    František Petr recalls his dramatic airbourne escape from France to England in June 1940.

    _______________________________________________________________

    František Petr joined Armée de l’Air 65th Escadrille de Bombment 112 Battalion after initial training, he was posted to 21 Escadrille de Corteau as an operational pilot and was soon in action against the advancing German armour. In May after several missions against the Germans, the French awarded him the Croix de Guerre for attacking a German armoured column near Sedan on 6 May 1940. The unit was based midway between Bordeaux and Agen (70 miles South East of Bordeaux). With the Germans advancing rapidly towards Paris things were getting difficult in France for the Czechs and they were contemplating what to do next. When it was taken out of their hands. The Czechoslovak airmen were summoned to the Escadrille Commander’s office. They were informed that he had received orders that all flying was to be stopped and personnel were to stop where they were. The officer understanding their plight made various suggestions and gave them money to help them. Exit through Spain unofficially. He also said that it would be impossible for him to allow them an aeroplane. Fate was in their hands again.

    František Petr, Armée de l’Air

    On leaving the office and thoroughly depressed, they had a brief discussion on what to do next. When one of the party realised that it was near lunchtime and that there were very few personnel situated near the aircraft lined-up. In a flash, they decided to attempt to steal one of the Bloch 210 twin-engined bombers. This aircraft, with a range of 1,700 Km, was capable of reaching England and there was one situated in an ideal area of the airfield for the escape.

    Bloch 210

    As they approached the aircraft they were challenged by a coloured Moroccan soldier on guard of the aircraft. The guard seeing that all the airmen were Sergeants in the Air Force may have been a little nervous. František ordered him to stand to attention. Then three more soldiers arrived and snapped to attention. The soldiers were ordered to go to another area of the airfield. While this was going on the Czechoslovak airmen got on board. They could not believe it when one of them found some bread and wine on board, but most of all that they were full of fuel. František was to be the pilot and started the engines. He did not have time to do his cockpit checks. He taxied straight to the runway that was right in front of him without making a turn.

    This was an anxious time for them all and they feared that they would be fired on by the airfield defences. They roared down the runway. At the correct take-off speed, he tried to pull back the controls and nothing happened to his horror, suddenly realising to his horror that in the turmoil, he had forgotten to disconnect the hook that tied the controls to the front panel area. He remembered shouting at the time to his comrades ”for Christ sake do something” `with the runway getting shorter by the second. The request was answered very quickly and a well-aimed kick freed the hook. It smashed the airspeed gauge at the same time. František immediately pulled back on the controls and very narrowly missed some poplar trees just off the runway. Luckily they were not fired on.

    Airborne with no maps or charts they flew westward over the coast and out to sea for approximately 25 km. Bohuslav Baumruk set a course for up the coast towards Saint-Nazaire. It was just after this that they were attacked by a seaplane. It made two passes at them firing as he came. Václav Kříž got into the top gun position and replied on both occasions. The German aircraft suddenly gave up the flight and flew off towards the French coast.

    They were not sure whether the aircraft had left quickly because there may have been other German fighters in the area, far more effective than a seaplane. So they climbed to a good altitude and they were quite pleased with their progress. By now the weather was getting cloudy and they could not see any coastline.

    After quite some time hoping to pass Saint-Nazaire to their right and to go over the Brittany peninsular. The starboard engine began to overheat and progressively got worse. They had to feather the engine for fear of it catching fire. The Bloch 210 was a heavy aircraft and more effort was required from the port engine. This put extra strain on it. They threw overboard every loose item on the aircraft to help the situation. Eventually, the strain began slowly to take effect and they began to lose height. The aircraft was losing approximately 60 metres every 5 minutes. Things appeared to be going against them. Passing through low cloud a coastline was spotted in the distance. Again they didn’t if it was the Loraine area or the Britany peninsular or England they were approaching. There was very little fuel left and they had no option but to try and force-land somewhere. František thought that they were going back to captivity. They crossed the coast at approximately 25 metres.

    They managed to fly for a time until a suitable field was found. Then an open area appeared in front of them and down they went, unfortunately, František couldn’t judge his descent because of the damage to his airspeed gauge on take-off. They touched down and ran the full length of the field and towards a hedgerow right in front of them with a small drywall. They crashed into the wall and stopped dead. All the occupants received injuries, cuts and bruises. František received a large cut on his chin, the scar of which he still bears today. Kříž broke his arm badly. They quickly got out of the wreckage. František said there was no fear of fire as there was no fuel.

    Not knowing where they were, they stayed not far from the crash site, half expecting Germans or Gendarmes to appear. After a short while, they were approached by a farmer with a double-barrelled shotgun. When they spoke to him, he was not sure if they were Germans or not. He took them to his farm and his daughter phoned the Police. Not being able to converse with the Czechoslovak airmen, the farmer became very wary of them and kept his weapon handy standing over them. The Police arrived, they again were unable to understand that they were Czechoslovaks in French Air Force uniforms.

    Kříž was sent to hospital under escort. An Army officer arrived and they were taken to their camp. It was here that they were told to their delight, that they had come down to the east of Exeter in the south of England.

    When their stories had been checked out by the military intelligence officers, they were well looked after and after a rest they were sent to RAF Bridgenorth. It was from here, after more checks, the airmen were sent to RAF Innsworth, Glos, then to RAF Cosford. It was there that František started a conversion course to Oxford aircraft. He also went to RAF Wilmslow near Manchester before being posted for operations with the newly formed 311 Sqn flying Wellingtons at RAF Honnington. After a short time, the whole squadron moved to East Wretham a few miles away from Norfolk. It was from there he did 1.5 tours of operations with RAF Bomber Command.

    František Petr, 311 Sqn

    _______________________________________________________________

    On the night of 20/21st October 1941, ten 311 Sqn Wellingtons took off for a night raid on Bremen, František was co-pilot of Wellington R1046, KX-E, taking off at 18:55. Nothing was heard after take-off until an SOS was received at 22:01 hours. They had dropped their bombs on Bremen but were attacked by a Luftwaffe night-fighter on their return flight. The attack on their Wellington caused damage to one of their engines and the aircraft came down on a sandbank 4½ miles south of Schiermonnikoog in the Frisian Islands. The crew (pilot Sgt Václav Proházka, second pilot Sgt František Petr, navigator P/O Erazim Veselý, and Sgts Josef Sůsa, Bedřich Valner and Jozef Zvolenský) were later picked up and became Prisoners of War.

    After internment in several Prisoner of War camps, he was finally liberated in 1945 and repatriated to England. He returned to Czechoslovakia in August 1945, put following the Communist Putsch in February 1948, and the subsequent purge, by the StB – Státní bezpečnost – the State Security Police, on the former RAF airmen, he was forced to escape to the American Zone of Germany and then onto England for his 2nd exile. He rejoined the RAF

    He rejoined the RAF and died, aged 83, on 25 February 2002, in Worcestershire, UK.

    František Petr, Czechoslovak Club, London 1980’s.





    Posted in 311 Sqd, Biography, Victim of Communism | 2 Comments

    Remembering the 88

    Posted on 14 March 2021 by fcafa


    Remembering the 88 Czechoslovak pilots who flew in the Battle of Britain.

    Připomínáme si 88 československých pilotů, kteří létali v bitvě o Británii

    The Battle of Britain took place between 10 July and 31 October 1940 with some 2,938 Allied airmen flying in that conflict.

    Bitva se odehrála v období mezi 10.červencem a 31. říjnem 1940. Dosud známe jména 2 938 letců, kteří se tohoto konfliktu zúčastnili.

    Of these 88 were Czechoslovak, who flew mainly in 310 (Czechoslovak) and 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadrons as well as some British RAF Squadrons. Eight of whom lost their lives in that battle.

    Osmdesát osm z nich byli Čechoslováci sloužící především u 310. a 312. perutě. Další naši letci pak působili u některých britských a jedné polské perutě RAF. Osm z nich zaplatilo tuto bitvu životem.

    The names of those 2,938 are on display and the London Battle of Britain Monument, in panels according to their nationality.

    Jména všech 2.938 leců najdeme rozdělená podle národností na panelech umístěných na London Battle of Britain Monument.

    and also on The Foxley-Norris Wall at the National Battle of Britain Memorial, at Capel-le-Ferne, Kent, in alphabetical order.

    a také na The Foxley-Norris Wall v Národním památníku bitvy o Británii v kentském Capel-le-Ferne, zde jsou uvedena v abecedním pořádku.

    The 88 Czechoslovaks are:
    Těmi 88 Čechoslováky jsou:

    AMBRUŠ, Ján P/O
    310 Sqn

    BARTOŠ, Jindřich P/O
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    BERGMAN, Václav P/O
    C de G
    310 Sqn

    BERNARD, František Sgt
    C de G
    238, 60 Sqns

    BREJCHA, Václav Sgt
    43 Sqn

    BURDA, František P/O
    C de G
    310 Sqn

    CHÁBERA, František Sgt
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    ČÍŽEK, Evžen P/O
    C de G
    1 Sqn

    CUKR, Václav Sgt
    C de G
    253 Sqn

    DOLEŽAL, František P/O
    C de G
    1 Sqn

    DUDA, Josef F/Lt
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    DVOŘÁK, Alois Sgt
    310 Sqn

    DYGRÝN, Josef Sgt
    85, 1 Sqns

    FAJTL, František P/O
    C de G
    1, 17 Sqns

    FECHTNER Emil P/O
    DFC
    310 Sqn
    † 29/10/40

    FEJFAR, Stanislav P/O
    C de G
    310 Sqn

    FOGLAR, Václav Sgt
    245 Sqn

    FOIT, Emil P/O
    85, 310 Sqns

    FRANTIŠEK, Josef Sgt
    DFM and bar, C de G
    303 Sqn
    † 08/10/40

    FÜRST, Bohuslav Sgt
    310, 605 Sqns

    GÖTH, Vilém, P/O
    510, 310 Sqn
    † 25/10/40

    HANUŠ, Josef Jan P/O
    C de G
    310 Sqn

    HANZLÍČEK, Otto Sgt
    C de G
    312 Sqn
    † 10/10/40

    HESS, Alexander S/Ldr
    DFC, C de G
    310 Sqn

    HIMR, Jaroslav P/O
    56, 310 Sqns

    HLAVÁČ, Jaroslav Sgt
    C de G
    310, 56 Sqns
    † 10/10/40

    HLOBIL, Alois P/O
    C de G
    312, 238 Sqns

    HORSKÝ, Vladimír Sgt
    310, 238 Sqns
    † 26/09/40

    HRADIL, František P/O
    310, 19 Sqns

    HRUBÝ, Otakar Sgt
    C de G
    111 Sqn

    HUBÁČEK, Josef Sgt
    C de G
    310 Sqn

    HÝBLER, Josef P/O
    310 Sqn

    JANOUCH, Svatopluk P/O
    C de G
    310 Sqn

    JAŠKE, Josef P/O
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    JÍCHA, Václav Sgt
    C de G
    310, 1 Sqns

    JIROUDEK, Miroslav F/Sgt
    C de G
    310 Sqn

    KAŇA [Kania], Jozef F/Sgt
    303 Sqn

    KAUCKÝ, Jan Sgt
    310 Sqn

    KEPRT, Josef Sgt
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    KESTLER, Oldřich Sgt
    111 Sqn

    KOMÍNEK, Josef Sgt
    310 Sqn

    KOPECKÝ, Miroslav Sgt
    C de G
    310, 111 Sqns

    KOPŘIVA, Josef Sgt
    310 Sqn

    KÖRBER, Karel Sgt
    32 Sqn

    KORDULA, František P/O
    310, 1, 17 Sqns

    KOUKAL, Josef Sgt
    310 Sqn

    KRÁTKORUKÝ, Bedřich Sgt
    1 Sqn

    KREDBA, Miroslav P/O
    310 Sqn

    KUČERA, Jaroslav Sgt
    245 Sqn

    KUČERA, Jiří V. Sgt
    C de G
    310, 238 Sqns

    KUČERA, Otmar Sgt
    111 Sqn

    KUTTELWASCHER, Karel Sgt
    C de G
    1 Sqn

    MACHÁČEK, Jiří P/O
    310, 145 Sqns

    MALÝ, Jaroslav F/Lt
    310 Sqn

    MANSFELD, Miloslav Sgt
    111 Sqn

    MAREK, František Sgt
    C de G
    310, 19 Sqns
    † 14/09/40

    MRÁZEK, Karel P/O
    310, 43, 46 Sqns

    PAVLŮ, Otto Sgt
    1 Sqn

    PÍPA, Josef Sgt
    43 Sqn

    PLZÁK, Stanislav Sgt
    C de G
    310, 19 Sqns

    PRCHAL, Eduard Sgt
    C de G
    310 Sqn

    PŘÍHODA, Josef Sgt
    1 Sqn

    PTÁČEK, Rudolf Sgt
    43 Sqn

    PŮDA, Raimund Sgt
    310, 605 Sqns

    ŘECHKA, Josef Sgt
    C de G
    310 Sqn

    ROHÁČEK, Rudolf P/O
    310, 601, 238 Sqns

    RYPL, František P/O
    310 Sqn

    ŠEDA, Karel Sgt
    C de G
    310 Sqn

    ŠIKA, Jaroslav Sgt
    C de G
    43 Sqn

    ŠLOUF, Václav Sgt
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    ŠTEFAN, Jan Sgt
    1 Sqn

    STEHLÍK, Josef Sgt
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    ŠTĚRBÁČEK, Jaroslav P/O
    310 Sqn
    † 31/08/40

    STŘIHAVKA, Jaromír Sgt
    85, 310 Sqns

    TRUHLÁŘ, Jan Sgt
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    VAŠÁTKO, Alois F/O
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    VELEBNOVSKÝ, Antonín P/O
    85, 1 Sqns

    VESELÝ, Vlastimil P/O
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    VINDIŠ, František Sgt
    310 Sqn

    VOPÁLECKÝ, Josef Sgt
    C de G
    310 Sqn

    VRÁNA, Adolf P/O
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    VYBÍRAL, Tomáš P/O
    C de G
    312 Sqn

    VYKOUKAL, Karel P/O
    C de G
    310, 111, 73 Sqns

    WEBER, František P/O
    310, 145 Sqns

    ZAORAL, Vladimír P/O
    310, 501 Sqns

    ZAVORAL, Antonín Sgt
    310, 151, 1 Sqns

    ZIMA, Rudolf P/O
    310 Sqn

    ZIMPRICH, Stanislav P/O
    310 Sqn
    Posted in 310 Sqd, 312 Sqd, Battle of Britain, Not Forgotton | 3 Comments

    More Czechoslovak connection at the Kent BoB Museum

    Posted on 7 March 2021 by fcafa


    Další československé prolnutí do Kent Battle of Britain Museum

    There is now a new Czechoslovak exhibit at the world-renowned Kent Battle of Britain Museum, Kent. Following re-researching of records and new information regarding recovered items from a Hurricane excavation near Great Totham, Essex in the 1980’s, that the Museum had acquired, Museum Chairman and Curator David Brocklehurst MBE, identified that the Hurricane was actually P3887 and had been flown by S/Ldr G D M Blackwood, joint Commanding Officer of 310 (Czechoslovak) Sqn, which had been shot down on 26 August 1940.

    Ve světoznámém muzeu bitvy o Británii v Kentu je nyní k vidění další československý exponát. Průzkum archívů vedený ředitelem muzea a kurátorem Davidem Brocklehurstem MBE a nové informace nabyté o troskách stroje Hurricane, vyzdviženého ze země nedaleko Great Tathamu v hrabství Essex v osmdesátých letech minulého století a nalézajícího se nyní ve sbírkách muzea, vedly k určení tohoto nálezu jako stroje P3887 létaného S/Ldr. G. D. M. Blackwoodem, britským velícím důstojníkem 310. perutě. Sestřelen byl 26. sprna 1940.

    Their announcement of this information resulted in the family of the late Ben Chamberlain, himself the nephew of Battle of Britain pilot John Boulton, donating to the museum a framed WW2 photograph that had been presented to, now, Wing Commander G D M Blackwood in May 1943 and signed by pilots from 313 (Czechoslovak) Sqn, six of whom had flown in the Battle of Britain with him in 310 (Czechoslovak) Sqn.

    Toto oznámení vedlo Bena Chamberlaina, synovce Johna Boultona a pilota v bitvě o Británii, k daru zarámované fotografie z druhé světové války, na které je již v době jejího pořízení v květnu 1943 vidět Wing Commader G. D. M. Blackwood. Fotografie je podepsaná piloty 313. perutě, z nichž šest sloužilo v bitvě o Británii u 310. perutě.

    Dave Brocklehurst MBE, Museum Chairman and Curator.
    Dave Brocklehurst MBE, ředitel a kurátor muzea.

    Signed by BERGMAN Václav, BERNARD František, DOLEŽAL František, FOGLAR Václav, KUČERA Jiří and KUČERA Otmar.

    Podepsáno Václavem Bergmanem, Františkem Bernardem, Františkem Doležalem, Václavem Foglarem, Jiřím Kučerou a Otmarem Kučerou.

    _______________________________________________________________

    The combat:
    Souboj

    310 Sqn was scrambled from Duxford and airbourne by 15:10 and ordered to patrol North Weald at 15.000 feet, Cloud base was about 7,000 feet and the squadron, led by its Commanding Officer S/Ldr G D M Blackwood, flying Hurricane P3887, climbed steeply through the clouds until they reached 15,000 feet. It was perhaps unfortunate that the C/O’s aircraft was the only one fitted with VHF thus making it impossible for him to communicate the remainder of the squadron. This inevitably led to some loss of formation. Some 15-18 Dornier 215 were soon sighted flying in tight formation on a South Easterly course. The C/O immediately engaged one which for some reason had broken away from the remainder. He fired a long burst from his machine guns at about 500 yards range and the Dornier 215 went down in a steep dive enveloped in thick smoke and flames. Unfortunately, in the course of the engagement, S/Ldr Blackwood’s Hurricane received an incendiary bullet in its starboard fuel tank, setting it on fire forcing him to bail out at 8,000 feet. He landed safely at Wickham Bishop, near Maldon, Essex and he rejoined the squadron at Duxford at 18:00 the same day little worse for his adventure.

    Třistadesátá peruť reagovala na poplach a vzlétla v 15:10 s rozkazem hlídkovat nad North Weald ve výšce 15.000 stop. Základna mraků byla přibližně v 7.000 stop. Peruť vedená jejím velícím důstojníkem S/Ldr. Blackwoodem na stroji Hurricane P3887 prudce vystoupala skrze mraky do 15.000 stop. Nepříznivou okolností bylo, že pouze stroj velitele byl vybaven radiokomunikačním zařízením, takže ten nemohl komunikovat se zbytkem perutě. Nevyhnutelným důsledkem byla částečná ztráta formace. Zanedlouho bylo pozorováno patnáct až osmnáct strojů Dornier Do 215 letících v těsné formaci jihovýchodním směrem. Velící důstojník si okamžitě vybral ten, který z nějakých důvodů opustil formaci. Vypálil ze svých kulometů dlouhou dávku ze vzdálenosti kolem 500 yardů. Dornier začal prudce padat v plamenech, zahalený do hustého dýmu. Bohužel, při útoku utrpěl jeho Hurricane zásah do pravé palivové nádrže, která vzplanula. S/Ldr. Blackwood byl donucen svůj stroj přibližně v 8.000 stop opustit. Na zem dopadl bezpečně ve Wickham Bishop nedaleko Maldonu v Essexu. K peruti se vrátil v šest hodin odpoledne unavený z událostí uplynulého dne.

    S/Ldr Blackwood’s recollection of this combat:
    Popis souboje od S/Ldr. Blackwooda

    When leading Squadron of 12 aircraft I sighted a formation of about 15 to 20 Dornier 215’s. As mine was the only one fitted with VHF I was unable to give orders for any particular attack. I dived in from astern and opened fire at about 600 yards closing to about 300 yards when I broke away owing to intense fire from the rear of the formation. On the second attack I noticed one Dornier slightly separated from the formation so I attacked from astern and gave it a long burst at about 300-250 yards. The enemy aircraft wobbled and seemed to take slight evasion action but may have been out of control. I then smelt something burning and noticed that my starboard wing tank was blistering on the top side of the wing. I broke off the attack and realised that my petrol tank was burning inside. About ten seconds later the tank burst into flames so I undid my straps and disconnected oxygen tabs etc. I turned the aircraft over on its back and fell out. I landed in a stubble field without any damage to myself.

    Když jsem vedl peruť dvanácti strojů, zpozoroval jsem okolo 15 – 20 strojů Dornier Do 215. Jelikož pouze můj stroj byl vybaven radiostanicí, nemohl jsem vydat rozkaz ke konkrétnímu způsobu útoku. Vrhl jsem se do útoku zezadu a přibližně z 600 yardů zahájil palbu. Během útoku jsem se přiblížil na 300 yardů. V této vzdálenosti jsem se musel kvůli těžké palbě ze zadní části formace z útoku odpoutat. Když jsem se vzdálil, všiml jsem si, že mi hoří zevnitř palivová nádrž. O přibližně deset sekund později požár nádrže propukl naplno. Uvolnil jsem si pásy, odpojil kyslíkovou masku a tak dále. Obrátil jsem stroj na záda a opustil ho. Přistál jsem nezraněn na strništi.

    S/Ldr G D M Blackwood receiving a Czechoslovak medal from President Benešs, Duxford 14.12.1940.
    S/Ldr. G.D.M. Blackwood přijímá 14. prosince 1940 od prezidenta Beneše československé vyznamenání.

    _______________________________________________________________




    Posted in 310 Sqd, Battle of Britain, Information | Leave a comment